Steinberger Spirit

I'm looking into buying an inexpensive, compact bass. What do you know about the Steinberger Spirit basses now available at musicyo.com -- specifically the original "paddle" design? Are they half-decent? How is the tone?

I just got the 4-string Sprit XT-2 paddle recently, and I like it a lot. It sounds different than either my Jazz or my Precision -- fatter and thicker, in a way, but very bright sounding too. Pickups have a lot of output for passive EMGs -- I can easily overdrive the passive input on my Hartke B60, but the 400RB and the RBI handle it very well. I like the tone, and LOVE the size and weight.

I've had three Spirits now - a pair of the XT-2s and a XZ-2. Both of the XT-2s were sold off recently, but not due to problems or dislike - I simply wasn't playing them enough to be worth keeping.

Quality is/was very high, especially for the price. Tuning stability is great, and the fretwork has been good on all three. (I defretted one of the XT-2s.)

You may also want to consider the XP-2 - I'd consider one for a travel bass, especially if I had a new PG cut for either a passive P pickup or a MM. I picked up one of the mini-V guitars (GP-2R) for my uncle, and was impressed with the feel.

I concur; buy one NOW. I was amazed at the quality and sound, and you can't beat the portability. I have a fretless 5, and it was my main bass for awhile, even though I just bought it as a backup. The only complaint I had was the neck-dive issue, but I fixed that by adding an extension to the body, and it is one of my favorite basses now.

It's the ultimate backup bass. I bring it to every gig, whether I play it or not. Whenever I pull it out of the gigbag, it's in tune. The pickups are passive, so one less point of failure. Variety of sounds, so I don't think I'll lose too much if I had to use it. Best of all, it's light and very easy to carry. Only dislike, is the way the strap buttons are. I always have to shift the bass a little, to get it in the right playing position for me when I play standing up.

I have a Cort headless, 20 year old version of the
same bass. I don't know if they changed the strap button on the newer models because my bass has absolutely no neck dive. Sliding down to 1st fret notes can be tricky until you get used to not having a headstock to stop you. I have always thought these basses were sleepers and highly recommend them.

I have one and think they are a great deal. I wouldn't want it as my only bass, but it is a great travel bass. Takes a bit of getting used to because the way it hangs actually extends the the neck a bit farther out than a normal bass, but it's not really a big deal.